Switzerland is a country with a healthy regard for the outdoor life, with gorgeous scenery and of course close proximity to some great mountains and ski resorts. Zermatt, Verbier and St Moritz are the glamorous places to head off to for a skiing holiday, while the capital Bern is full of culture, shopping and quaint traditional entertainment.


The Eiger Mountain

Switzerland may be small in size but it’s big in character, with a wealth that affords an enviable quality of life and produces some of the very best mouth-watering cheeses and chocolate. Where would we be without Swiss watches and the Army knife?

Switzerland shares its borders with France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy and boasts some of the highest mountains in Europe, together with magnificent scenic waterfalls, rivers and lakes – and plenty of greenery.

Swiss History
Switzerland is right in the heart of central Europe and a lot of its cultural influences come from its nearest neighbours. There are four national languages, each of which is prevalent in a different region, and the country shares much of its history with Germany, France, Italy and Austria.

In ancient times, Switzerland was called Helvetica and in the 13th century was one of the regions (or cantons) that remained part of the Roman Empire. Built up around three forest areas in Germany – Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden, the Swiss Confederation slowly added new districts until 1648 when the Treaty of Westphalia gave Switzerland its independence from the Roman Empire and it became a country in its own right.

French revolutionary troops occupied Switzerland in 1798 and decided to call it the Helvetic Republic. Napoleon restored the federal government in 1803 and in 1815 Switzerland became independent again. Switzerland enjoys a reputation as a neutral country when it comes to international relations, and is still not a member of the EU, although it did join the United Nations in 2002.

Getting There

Zürich Airport is 11 kilometres from the city, with trains that run from beneath terminal B. Regional and night buses are also available. If you arrive in Switzerland by air you’re also eligible to buy a special Fly-Rail Luggage ticket from your airport of departure, this means you can arrange for your luggage to be delivered directly to a Swiss railway station, and enables you to check your bags in at the railway station up to 24 hours before you fly home.

Geneva Airport is 5 kilometres north of the city, with a regular train service into Geneva Cornavin Station. There are also buses into the city centre.

Bern Airport is 9 kilometres from the city, with bus services available to Bern station, and a rail service that runs from Bern to Zürich Airport. Taxis are also available.

Basel Airport is 12 kilometres from the city. A bus route runs from the airport to Basel railway station, and taxis are available.

For the latest visa requirements visit www.projectvisa.com

Swiss Food

It’s not all chocolate and cheese in this fine country, although these two famous exports are definitely worth sampling while you’re there. Eating out in Switzerland is a pleasure, from basic snacks and burgers to spectacular restaurants providing an eating ‘experience’ at a very high cost!


The world famous Gruyère cheese

Swiss cuisine is a mixed bag, but one of the specialities is the famous fondue, made from a traditional recipe of Gruyère and Vacherin cheeses, melted and mixed with white wine, flour, Kirsch and garlic. Another native cheese to Switzerland is Emmental, The Swiss are also partial to their sausages, including Beinwurst, Knackerli, Landjäger and Leberwurst (liver pâté).

Menus in Switzerland tend to feature different types of pasta, potatoes, vegetables, meat (even horse), fish and some sea-food. Vegetarian options are becoming more available and most restaurants will have at least one vegetarian main course on the menu.

When eating out, you’ll find that a service charge (up to 15 per cent) is included in restaurant, café and bar bills by law, and you’re not expected to give a tip although some people may round the bill up anyway.

Money

The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc, and you’ll find many Bureaux de Change in the main cities and tourist areas. For the latest exchange rates visit www.ex.com. Credit cards are widely accepted but not as popular here as they are in some other countries – be aware that not all shops, hotels or restaurants accept them. When they do, Euro Card/Master Card and Visa are the most popular.

Some places, usually those in tourist areas, will also take Euros, but they will give you your change in Swiss Francs.

If you prefer to take traveller’s cheques, take them in Pound Sterling, US Dollar or Euro to avoid extra charges. Traveller’s cheques are sometimes accepted as payment at airports and railway stations. Banks are usually open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Shopping

VAT is charged at a rate of 7.6 per cent in Switzerland, which is reclaimable if you spend more than SFr400 on a single item and live outside Switzerland. You also have to take the goods out of Switzerland within 30 days of purchasing them to qualify, and complete the correct paperwork before you leave.

The cities of Switzerland are perfect destinations for shopping, starting with Bern which proudly boasts over 6 kilometres of covered arcades in the Old Town. A shopping trip here will reveal some of Bern's most upmarket shops and boutiques, all under the comfort of a weather-proof arcade. Outside the arcade, the main shopping streets are the Spitalgasse and Marktgasse, and for charming markets look no further than the food and flower markets on Tuesday and Saturday mornings at Bundesplatz, Münstergasse, Parliament Square and Bärenplatz. To experience some authentic Swiss craftsmanship, there’s a fantastic craft market held on the first Saturday of the month (March to December only) at the Minster.

Head over to Basel and you’ll notice one of the advantages of shopping in the border region is that you may find a reasonable price difference on certain types of goods between Switzerland, France and Germany. If you have the time, and do your research, you can pick up some serious bargains.

In Basel itself, you’re spoilt for choice with classy shops and upmarket boutiques that abound in the city centre, Old Town and Claraplatz in Kleinbasel. The main shopping street is also great for designer and fashion boutiques. For more arty and alternative buys, head out towards Schneidergasse and Spalenberg.

Geneva is renowned for being a wealthy city, and some of the most exclusive stores in the city are to be found around the perimeters of the Rues Basses. Here you’ll also find watch and jewellery emporiums as well as some great department stores. Also look out for some of Geneva’s impressive outdoor markets. The flower market on the Place du Molard and the clothes and book market on the Place de la Madeleine are open every day.


Zürich street scene

Zürich is also home to some elegant boutiques, interspersed with the usual department stores and some interesting speciality shops. The best shopping opportunities being found in the Old Town, which provides a good selection of cafes and bars to relax in and rest your shopping feet.

Some shops in Swiss cities still close for lunch, although the bigger stores don’t. Shops must close by 8:00pm on weekdays and 5:00pm on Saturdays.

Where to Go in Switzerland

Bern

Bern is the federal capital of Switzerland, and is home to the country's government. If you have a passing interest in politics, a visit to the House of Parliament is a must. This imposing building and seat of the Swiss government and parliament was built between 1852 and 1902, and features a domed hall displaying works of art by Swiss artists. Outside, the famous Parliament Square contains 26 fountains, each one representing a Swiss canton.


The Kramgasse in Bern

The city is a great base if you’re planning any excursions to the Alps, the Bernese Oberland or to the Swiss Mittelland. Bern was founded in 1191 and, according to legend, got its name from the founder Berchtold V von Zähringen, who is said to have killed a bear on the Aare peninsula. Since then the city has had a certain affinity for all things bear-related, and for the last five centuries there have actually been bear pits in the city centre. A brand new bear park opened in Bern in 2009, a place for people to go and see bears enjoying themselves while climbing, fishing and playing on the banks of the river.

Zeitglockenturm – or the ‘Clock Tower' was built in Bern during the 12th century, and the picturesque clock was added in 1530. The mechanical figurines on the clock's east side move hourly. If you want to know exactly how the clock's mechanism works you can take a fascinating guided tour around the inside of the tower.

Basel

Basel is the kind of city that has something for everyone, and is great for photos – the landscape offers delights galore – the Old Town has beautiful façades, squares with ornate and decorative fountains plus of course the magnificent cathedral –some of its more modern districts are peppered with striking buildings designed by contemporary architects as Renzo Piano, Richard Meier and Frank Gehry.

Basel's cathedral dominates the Old Town, combining striking gothic and Romanesque features with stunning sandstone walls and twin towers. The cathedral houses the tomb of one the greatest European Renaissance humanists, Erasmus of Rotterdam. Out on the terrace you will be greeted by some stunning views of the Rhine, the Vosges Mountains, and the Black Forest.

The zoo at Basel was established in 1874, and over time it has grown to become one of Switzerland's favourite attractions. The zoo is home to over 6,000 animals – everything from lions to kangaroos – and it attracts around a million visitors every year.

If art’s your passion, you’ll enjoy the Kunstmuseum, which is the oldest art museum in Switzerland. There, you’ll find the world's largest collection of works by the Holbein family and many works by other Swiss Renaissance artists, as well as a really impressive collection of modern art, from impressionists, cubists, German expressionists and even a bit of abstract expressionism.

The first university in Switzerland was founded in Basel in 1460. Erasmus of Rotterdam studied there, and the university helped the city gain its reputation as a ‘city of academic and humanistic excellence’. It is somewhere visitors will find a welcoming, peaceful, and tolerant place to stay.

There are some beautiful places to visit outside the main city, including the excavated Roman remains of the town Augusta Raurica and the scenic beauty of the Jura, the Vosges and the Black Forest.

Geneva

Geneva has a well-deserved reputation for being a cosmopolitan city. Located right at the southwestern end of Switzerland’s largest lake, Lac Léman, and astride the River Rhône, the scenery is second to none, complemented by mountains and hills.

Home to some of the world’s ‘super-rich’, Geneva has top class hotels, restaurants and culture. A stay in Geneva can be expensive but you won’t really mind paying a little extra when you catch sight of the beautiful Old Town, with its classy museums and stylish places to see. Geneva is also extremely clean and efficiently run – the public transport system has a reputation for cleanliness and reliability.

Cathédral de St Pierre has been in Geneva since the 12th century, but despite its reputation, is actually quite small compared to some of the more majestic cathedrals to be found in Europe. The decor and design include Romanesque, gothic, and neo-classical styles. Underneath the cathedral building is one of the largest underground archaeological sites in Europe, and contains some fascinating 14th-century mosaics. For views across the lake and the old town, the top of the north tower is a good place to stop and look.

The Jet d'Eau (Water Fountain) is Geneva’s version of the Eiffel Tower. The fountain reaches an impressive height of 140 metres and dominates the views across Geneva. The Jet was originally used as a safety valve for the city's water supply and it remains the tallest fountain in Europe to this day. The fountain is lit up at night and is a fabulous picture opportunity in summer, or any time that the sun shines, too, as a beautiful rainbow appears behind the water jet, which shoots up into the sky at 200 kilometres per hour.

The MAMCO (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) is housed in an old factory and is well worth a visit. The museum extends over four floors in total, and guides advise that to do the museum full justice you really need to start at the top and work your way down. The museum is home to many permanent displays as well as visiting collections. One of the permanent displays is L'Appartement, a reproduction of a Parisian collector's flat. The kind benefactor loaned his own furniture, paintings and sculptures to the museum to make the display more authentic.


The Old Town in Zürich

Zürich

Zürich is Switzerland's largest city, and some areas, like the old town, Altstadt, are absolutely charming. The gothic Fraumünster has some stunning stained-glass windows and faces the Grossmünster Church across the River Limmat. The Old Town spans the river, and is very much the area to head for if you’re in search of some of the most interesting places to visit in Zürich. The nearby Lindenhof was once the site of a Roman customs post and is a good place to start your visit.

The Kunsthaus Zürich is the city's most important art gallery, with collections of paintings and sculptures by Swiss and international masters. The collections offer something for everyone with an interest in art and cover most periods from medieval times, with most of the works from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Swiss National Museum is nestled in landscaped parkland between the Hauptbahnhof and the Limmat and Sihl rivers where collections of unusual exhibits are often on display.


Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Lausanne

Lausanne

Lausanne is a lovely city on the shores of Lake Geneva. Dominated by the famous Cathédrale Notre-Dame, the city is also the home of the famed Olympic Museum. For a quiet walk, take a stroll along the promenade of the old Port d'Ouchy. Music lovers should visit the city in July, when the Festival de la Cité is held in the old town. Lausanne is definitely a place to visit if you’re a fan of the arts, as it is host to several film and music festivals, like the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival and the Bach Festival.

Berner Oberland

The Berner Oberland is one of the most spectacular areas of Switzerland. It is well worth a visit, especially during the summer months, and it’s well deserved reputation for being absolutely beautiful has made it a major tourist area. The spectacular scenery includes some famous mountain peaks (Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger), as well as mountain lakes, alpine streams and gorgeous plants and flowers. To help you take in all the scenery you can take a trip along Europe's highest railway and stop off at some of the celebrated resorts like Adelboden, Grindelwald and Interlaken.


Lake Lugano in Ticino

Ticino

If you like the idea of travelling further afield than the usual cities and tourist areas, venture south to the Italian-speaking, southernmost tip of Switzerland, the region of Ticino. You can drive through this lovely region along the road from the Alpine valleys, through Bellinzona (where you can stop to take photos of the three medieval castles) to the Locarno and Lugano, the beautiful lake resorts of Southern Ticino.

Gruyères

Find out where the cheese is made and at the same time see one of the most photogenic villages in the whole of Switzerland, Gruyères. It’s the home of the nation's most famous cheese, a castle, and many cheese factories.


Appenzell

Appenzell

The Appenzell region has a certain rustic charm and is well known for being the most traditional canton in Switzerland because of its quaint little picturesque villages, featuring ornately painted houses and some truly gorgeous landscapes to marvel over. The highest peak in the region is Säntis. A visit will give you the chance to take in views across six nations – Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Lucerne

A magnificent city in the centre of the country that offers everything from mountains to cobbled streets, Lucerne is hard to beat. The city has a medieval style Old Town complete with cobblestone streets, fountains and markets, and the Kapellbrucke, the oldest road bridge in Europe.

Cross the Reuss River using the Kapell Bridge, then visit one of the city’s ten museums which include the Picasso Museum and Swiss Transport Museum. The Swiss Transport Museum has an IMAX theatre, a planetarium and a section containing over 300 works of art by the Swiss artist Hans Erni.


The Lion Monument


Probably the most visited monument in Lucerne is the Lion Monument. It was carved out of a cliff by artist Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1821, and dedicated to the memory of the 700 Swiss guards massacred in Paris during the French Revolution.

Forget any preconceptions about Switzerland being all about skiing and fondue. It’s a truly magnificent place to visit for alpine scenery, it is extremely clean and very pretty, and some of the scenery is just indescribable – but Switzerland is also cosmopolitan and modern, great for some serious retail therapy and a place not to be missed if you’re on the lookout for culture and class. For information about the weather in Switzerland visit www.worldweather.org